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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Ethnic Studies

595 Ranked Colleges
9,231 Degrees Awarded
$34,100 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Ethnic Studies is the 99th most popular major in the country with 9,231 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, ethnic studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $30,818 and had an average of $22,901 in loans still to pay off.

For this year’s “Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major” ranking, we looked at 595 colleges that offer a degree in ethnic studies. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have one of the most popular ethnic studies programs in the United States.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major

The colleges and universities below are the best for ethnic studies students.

1

Out of the 595 schools in the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 358 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Ethnic Studies at University of California - Los Angeles

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California State University - Northridge. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major list. California State University - Northridge is a large school located in Northridge, California that handed out 213 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full CSUN Ethnic Studies Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Davis. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major. University of California - Davis is a large school located in Davis, California that handed out 207 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full UC Davis Ethnic Studies Report

4

Out of the 595 schools in the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #4 spot on the list. UC Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 166 ’s ethnic studies degrees to qualified students.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at UC Santa Cruz

5

Out of the 595 schools in the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. Perkinston, Mississippi is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ethnic studies degrees to 152 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

6

With a ranking of #6, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 129 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at University of California - Berkeley

7
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. This large school is located in San Francisco, California, and it awarded 128 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Ethnic Studies at SFSU

8

University of California - Santa Barbara landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. UCSB is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 114 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Ethnic Studies at University of California - Santa Barbara

9

California State University - Sacramento landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. Sac State is located in Sacramento, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 107 ’s ethnic studies degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Ethnic Studies at Sac State

10

California State University - Long Beach ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major list. California State University - Long Beach is located in Long Beach, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 98 ’s ethnic studies degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Ethnic Studies at CSULB

11

University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. UW Seattle is located in Seattle, Washington and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 79 ’s ethnic studies degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

12
The Graduate Center crest
The Graduate Center, CUNY
New York, New York

The Graduate Center, CUNY ranked #12 on this year’s Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major list. The Graduate Center is a medium-sized public school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 89 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at The Graduate Center, CUNY

13
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school awarded 75 diplomas to qualified ’s ethnic studies students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full UF Ethnic Studies Report

14
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking, coming in at #14. Brooklyn College is a fairly large school located in Brooklyn, New York that handed out 68 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Brooklyn College Ethnic Studies Report

15

University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. University of Hawaii at Manoa is a public institution located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 62 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of Hawaii at Manoa Ethnic Studies Report

16

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major list. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 57 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at Ohio State University - Main Campus

17

University of California - Irvine came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. This large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 53 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of California - Irvine Ethnic Studies Report

18
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. This large school is located in Eugene, Oregon, and it awarded 56 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at University of Oregon

19

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. UT Austin is a large public school situated in Austin, Texas. It awarded 60 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full The University of Texas at Austin Ethnic Studies Report

19

University of Illinois at Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this large public school awarded 49 degrees to qualified ’s ethnic studies students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at UIC

19
Yale crest
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut

Yale University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in New Haven, Connecticut, and it awarded 49 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Ethnic Studies at Yale University

22

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ethnic studies degrees to 52 students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

22
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

With a ranking of #22, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major list. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s ethnic studies degrees to 49 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Ethnic Studies at SDSU

24

With a ranking of #24, California State University - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 46 ’s ethnic studies degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Cal State LA Ethnic Studies Report

25

University of Colorado Boulder came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking. Located in Boulder, Colorado, this large public school handed out 45 degrees to qualified ’s ethnic studies students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Ethnic Studies at CU - Boulder

25

Florida International University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major ranking, coming in at #25. FIU is a public institution located in Miami, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 46 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Ethnic Studies at FIU

Rest of the Best 49 in Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major

Not only did these schools make the top 49 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

27
27
29
29
31
SSU crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, California
31
33
34
Oglala Lakota College crest
Oglala Lakota College
Kyle, South Dakota
35
35
Mt. SAC crest
Mt. San Antonio College
Walnut, California
37
37
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
37
40
KU crest
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
41
42
42
44
Sierra College crest
Sierra College
Rocklin, California
44
46
Georgia State crest
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia
46
Stanford crest
Stanford University
Stanford, California
46
Wellesley crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts
46
46

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Most Well Attended Ethnic Studies Major

While not in the ’top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

RankCollegeLocation
51San Jose State UniversitySan Jose, CA
52Arizona State University - TempeTempe, AZ
52Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY
52University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT
52California State University - East BayHayward, CA
52Southeastern Oklahoma State UniversityDurant, OK
52University of Virginia - Main CampusCharlottesville, VA
52Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA
59Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH
59University of Massachusetts - BostonBoston, MA
59California State Polytechnic University - PomonaPomona, CA
59Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA
59Washington University in St LouisSaint Louis, MO
64Portland State UniversityPortland, OR
64St Olaf CollegeNorthfield, MN
RankCollegeLocation
66Lehman CollegeBronx, NY
66Oregon State UniversityCorvallis, OR
66University at AlbanyAlbany, NY
66Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA
66Northwestern UniversityEvanston, IL
66Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT
72Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara, CA
72University of DelawareNewark, DE
72DePaul UniversityChicago, IL
72Binghamton UniversityVestal, NY
72Rutgers University - New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ
72Hunter CollegeNew York, NY
78Claremont Graduate UniversityClaremont, CA
78City College of San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA
78Howard UniversityWashington, DC
78Towson UniversityTowson, MD
82Windward Community CollegeKaneohe, HI
82University of ConnecticutStorrs, CT
82University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL
82Brandeis UniversityWaltham, MA
82University of Oklahoma Norman CampusNorman, OK
87Haskell Indian Nations UniversityLawrence, KS
87Minnesota State University - MankatoMankato, MN
87California Polytechnic State University - San Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo, CA
87Wheaton College MassachusettsNorton, MA
RankCollegeLocation

Notes and References

References

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